Marches, river and coastal cleanups, awareness events, and educational seminars will focus this Saturday on the so-called “Invest in our planet,” a call for greater ecological awareness to stop environmental deterioration.
This April 22 marks the 53rd anniversary of the modern environmental movement, a celebration that will echo in some 190 countries and has become the “most observed non-religious holiday in history,” says the NGO EarthDay.org, the main promoter of The initiative.
“Just as Valentine’s Day encourages us to appreciate our loved ones a little more, Earth Day is a reminder to dedicate our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental problems,” says the organization. .
As every year, the responsibility falls on each one of the planet’s inhabitants to recycle, not buy fast fashionincorporate sustainable habits, learn and help put an end to plastic pollution, as well as encourage their legislators to pass laws to combat climate change.
Between the events that will attract the most public is the one that EarthDay.Org describes as “possibly the largest environmental protest of 2023“. With the support of some 70 organizations, approximately 100,000 people are expected to gather in the streets of London who will march “side by side to fight for the (British) Parliament to act on the climate crisis.”
On the other side of the Atlantic is the massive cleanup of coastal area of Cape Coralin Florida, seriously hit by hurricane Ian last October. The organizers expect the assistance of more than 5,000 volunteers in the area, one of the most popular destinations for tourism, the main source of income for most of the area’s inhabitants. Those interested in participating can register in this link.
Massive events will also be held in Rome, Boston, Zimbabwe and India, one of the most polluted countries in the world.
Moving consciences in Latin America
EarthDay.Org records nearly 60 Earth Day events in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Coastal and river cleanups, radio programs, marches, interventions on roads, schools, squares, institutions and non-governmental organizations will take place this Saturday throughout the region.
The event map records actions in the vast majority of countries, from Mexico, through Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, to Chile and Argentina.
The Origin of Earth Day
The Earth Day celebration arose in 1969 after a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, caused an environmental disaster in the area.
Inspired by the student movement at the time, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson harnessed the energy of youth protests and growing awareness of air and water pollution to propose a day where the issue could be discussed, mostly in the classrooms. universities.
The idea of holding these meetings in April was initially to avoid exams and vacations, which would encourage greater participation by university students. Nelson recruited a young activist, Denis Hayes, and thus the first Earth Day was celebrated, on April 22, 1970, which would soon take hold and be replicated throughout the world.
For more information on how to take action, visit the website of earthday.org.
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